Crochet Saved My Life [Kindle Edition]

Kathryn Vercillo (Author), Julie Michelle (Photographer)

Book Description

Crochet saves lives. It saved mine.

In the worst throes of depression I found myself sobbing on the bathroom floor, the tip of a kitchen knife pointed into my wrist. I was aching to break the flesh and bring the pain to an end. Through sheer force of will, I pried my own desperate hands open and replaced the knife with a crochet hook. Then I crocheted to save my life.

In this book, you will get to know me through my story of depression and healing. And you will get to know other women as well. You will meet Aurore who crochets to stay in touch with reality as she deals with ongoing psychiatric hallucinations. You will meet Laurie who made a new life with crochet after years of a life filled with abuse. You will meet Tammy whose crochet helps her with the ups and downs of living with Chronic Lyme Disease. You will meet Liza who crochets through the anxiety of having temporary bouts of blindness caused by an undiagnosed health condition.

Here are some of the things you will hear them say:

"When I crochet I don't think about how my body is now broken; I think about how I can create something beautiful and useful with my hook and either yarn or thread." -Vicki

"When I'm anxious, I feel like a hollow hull. Crocheting helps fill up the void." - Aurore

"I couldn't pay for therapy, but a few balls of crochet thread cost less than $20 and provided me with many hours of crochet." - M.K.

"The feeling of the yarn and the rhythmic motions produced by crocheting are very quieting and help me regroup, recharge and become reconnected to my inner self amidst turmoil and confusion." - Aimee

"Crochet helps me put my pain on the back burner for a while. It takes my focus away from how I'm feeling and puts it in a more productive place". - Shelli

The two dozen women whose stories are shared in this book are the women who hook to heal. We are not alone. Studies shows that crocheters are numerous; research and anecdotal evidence show that people of all ages, from all walks of life, with all types of health conditions may find healing through their hooks and yarn. Join us on our journey.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For years I've loudly argued that crochet IS personal for so many of us. We're not just "making stuff" we're keeping our hands busy and our runaway minds still and this book, THIS BOOK describes the raw experience tenderly, factually, and in a way that addresses our humanity with courtesy. Best of all, it offers the story of hope.  Hope in the personal life stories and hope in the exercises to help people learn to be mindful, find a peaceful center and hopefully find some kind of peace in their lives. This book is not depressing, it is empowering. You need this book." - Laurie Wheeler, Crochet Liberation Front

"Kathryn Vercillo gives many accounts in Crochet Saved My Life of how crochet has helped others, from empowering a woman who was a victim of rape, to helping a woman who suffers from hallucinations keep her grip on reality, to comforting a woman who is going blind. This book is a must-read for any crocheter who has ever felt alone or like no one else understands. If you only have time to read one book this year, make it this one." - Selena, CrochetKitten blog

"It's immediately obvious to anyone reading this book that the message reaches far beyond crocheting: crafting, particularly tactile and engaging crafting, does wonders for the spirit. Grab this book if you're stressed/anxious/depressed and are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Read it for inspiration from powerful women who have turned their lives around. If you have a friend/relative struggling with mental illness, read it as a way to gain insight into their experience- as Kathryn has a gift for putting into words ideas that usually remain hiding in the back of peoples' minds." Stacey, FreshStitches blog

From the Author

Before starting this book I knew that it was important to me that whatever I wrote next must be a story that came directly from my heart. I believe that each of us has an individual story to tell and that it is important to do so, to be honest about our experiences so that we can better understand ourselves and through that connect better to others. Overcoming depression was definitely the most important thing that had happened in my life and I knew there was a link to how crochet had been a part of that so I started journaling, blogging, and exploring this idea and it grew from there. Then I began to receive the stories from other strong, amazing women. They shared intimate details with me about illness and pain and truths about how they crafted to heal. I felt hugely entrusted with their stories and wanted to use this book to honor them. I believe that the anecdotal evidence about the benefits of crafting is strong here. However, it was also important to me to supplement that with research for any naysayers out there. Besides, I have a strong interest in mental health issues and wanted to really learn (and share) the how and why behind craft's therapeutic benefits. I believe I have been successful in doing that here!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 613 KB
• Print Length: 305 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1478190450
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008MQ8D0S
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,646 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #50 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Crocheting
  • #77 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Self-Help > Creativity

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kathryn Shares The Heart of Crochet August 23, 2012

By S. Duggan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Crochet Saved My Life starts out with Kathryn's history of depression and moves into the science of healing from mental illness. This book is filled with story after story of people healing from tragedies and illness all with a hook and yarn.

I saw myself in each story and I applaud the women for being brave enough to share in such a public way.

My preference was for the stories so I did gloss over the science of depression and other illnesses. That was a bit of a slower read for me. But I enjoyed it because it's great that science is taking notice of something crocheters have known for a long time, Crochet heals.

Stopping by to move my rating of 4 stars to 5 stars. Loved the book - have read it 3 times now and each time I love it more. A must read for anyone who crafts.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No Exaggeration! February 21, 2013

By Boocoos

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kathryn Vercillo is working on a second book on this subject that will, no doubt, be just as important as this one. Her collection of stories, including her own, are as real as it gets. I personally know some of the people who shared their experiences. They are real. The stories are real. True as truth ever gets, it is so uplifting when you realize you are not alone. However, you must participate in your own recovery. This could very nearly be looked upon as a medical manual because of the research behind it and the realization that it can help so many.
Crochet is being taught to people with Alzheimer's and children with behavioral problems. The rhythm and tactile comfort can help anyone with thought processing problems. It is self nurturing that can be taught simplistically.
Vercillo's suffering, findiing help and using everything she could find to help herself is not an uncommon story; people will do bizarre thing to end their pain. Her realization that she might be able to help others is the amazing part.
Every one of us knows someone that this book could help. It is profound.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful read applicable to all crafting! August 23, 2012

By Anastasia

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a fabulous book detailing not just the author's, but many others', personal struggles with mental illness and highlighting how crochet (and crafting, more generally) served as a shining light.
This book weaves personal stories with scientific research in an easy-to-read style. And, let me say, her personal story is shocking and fascinating!
If you (or someone you know) struggles with a mental illness, you will instantly relate to the people featured in the book. And as a crocheter myself, I completely acknowledge the healing ability of the craft. However, the author's key point is that doing concrete, hands-on work is therapeutic, and therefore would apply to a wide number of crafts/skills: gardening, cooking, sewing, painting...
My only regret is the title of the book... I think having 'crochet' in the title limits the perceived audience of this book. It's much bigger than just crochet!
A wonderful read. I highly recommend it.

More About the Author

Kathryn Vercillo is a San Francisco based freelance writer, blogger and crochet lover. Her most recent book, Crochet Saved My Life, is a non-fiction account of her experience using crochet to heal through depression. Kathryn has also authored two previous books (Ghosts of San Francisco and Ghosts of Alcatraz) and a booklet of articles called When Grandma Isn't Crocheting, She's Hunting Big Game. She has been a contributing author on other book projects.

Kathryn's work has been published in magazines including Latina Magazine and Skope. She has worked as a professional blogger for numerous websites including PC World, Dial-a-phone, SF Travel, and Houzz. Her online articles about crochet have been published around the web on sites that include Crochetvolution, Crochet Liberation Front, SF Indie Fashion and Handmadeology. Her Crochet Concupiscence blog was voted one of the top 5 2012 craft blogs in Inside Crochet Magazine and was a 2011 runner-up for a Flamie award from the CLF.

Kathryn writes from the heart of personal experience, using her own unique view of the world as a starting point to connect with others. She fervently believes that writing should not only be used as catharsis and confession but also worked as a tool to create connections between people.

You can visit her crochet blog at www.crochetconcupiscence.com or learn more about the author at www.kathrynvercillo.com.